BY KENNETH EZE
The culture of looking good by taking a professional touch for boosting self-confidence with add-ons is gaining ground in Nigeria.
In simple terms, “purchased beauty” is rocking social circles in Nigeria. Someone, once said that virtually everything needed to transform from ugliness to beauty are on sale in the shops.
Yes, there might be beauty enhancers, but there must be someone to apply them professionally to achieve the desired objectives.
So, some folks are making swift business therefrom.
Here are tips on how you can join the train and benefit or grow your brand, if you are already in:
1. Strategic marketing – Learn some skills to promote your work as a business. Success doesn’t happen by chance. You must be prepared for it. Be ready for some “presentation” should a group of “old boys’/girls’ association” call you to defend what you can do and for how much. Winning with a group would almost always go with competition. Be prepared for it, else, someone else will take the chance.
2. Word of mouth – Carefully generate word of mouth on your skills and the things you have done as a make up artist, by prompting people talk to others about you and your service rendition. People rely on trusted friends on such matters. Know that you are selling personal service and people count on the experience of those they trust. Discerning people don’t want to gamble with their personal care.
3. Speak for yourself – Make yourself up the way you can make other up. And let those you know who are interested in being made-up, notice it and ask who did it. You’ll be surprised that they will demand for your services. Be your own model or brand ambassador.
4. Show up on SM – Keep your social media handles and pages active with your work. If you are at an event, making people up, don’t pass up a chance to showcase your work on Facebook, Instragram, Twitter, WhatsApp and other social media platforms that you may have access to. People are reaching important decisions based on what they see on social media.
5. Be active on SM groups – Be very active on the social media groups that you belong to, like work, old boys’ or girls’ associations or even family groups. It’ll keep you top on the minds of group members. If those in that group don’t patronise you, they will chip in a word when someone they know require your services.
6. Equip yourself – People would rather pay premium for beauty than not getting a stand-out make-up. Get the best equipment and beauty materials. Possibly, offer people choices. You’ll be surprised as to how much people can part with to ensure they get satisfaction, as against paying low and ending up looking scrappy.
7. Get endorsements – Whenever you get a chance to make-up an individual, get social with him or her. Let the person pose for you and share on your and his or her social media pages or handles. This is an endorsement that his or her friends will hold on to, to click on your network in a way that would get you busy and ring on your account balance.
8. Flaunt your network – Once people submit themselves to you to be made up, keep their contacts active. People who patronised you would be glad to receive thank you notes and regular greetings. These would serve the purpose of making you their first choice when they require your services and it will keep you in the faces of their friends and family who might also require your services.
9. Be trendy – People who require the services of make-up artists want to showcase the best of the moment. Do what you can to demonstrate that your service offerings are current. And when there’s a new trend in, for instance headgear, for instance, be among the first to showcase it on your social media handles or pages. By so doing, you are offering your existing customers a chance of getting updated and assuring them that when you are called upon, you will not disappoint.
